Gang of teenagers who carried out ‘horrible, brutal’ robbery in Rothwell locked up

Callum Jones

A gang of young men who punched and kicked a man to the ground during a robbery in Rothwell have all been locked up.

Zac Anderson, Shaun Hillyer and Rhys Martin all attacked a restaurant worker as he walked home shortly after midnight.

Northampton Crown Court heard the three men, who were all teenagers at the time of the attack in September 2013, followed the victim, who was carrying a satchel containing his wallet and mobile phone.

Andrew Howarth, prosecuting, said the victim was told to hand over his bag but, when he refused, he felt a number of blows to his face.

Mr Howarth said a witness saw the defendants kicking and punching the man as he lay on the ground.

The victim suffered bruising to his face and jaw and was forced to take three weeks off work to recovery from his injuries.

After being arrested, Anderson, aged 18, of Elizabeth Road, Rothwell, and Hillyer, aged 20, of Meadow Road, Rothwell, denied being part of the robbery. However, both pleaded guilty on the first day of a trial that was due to start on Monday.

Martin, aged 21, of Cold Ashby, admitted the offence at an earlier hearing.

His Honour Judge Rupert Mayo said: “This was a horrible and brutal attack on an innocent person involving the three of you.”

Anderson, who was only 16 years old when he carried out the attack, was sentenced to 28 months in a young offender institution. Hillyer and Martin, who were both 18 years old at the time of the attack, were given sentences of 36 months and 27 months, respectively.

A fourth man, who also admitted a charge of robbery, was given a 33-month custodial sentenced at an earlier hearing.